US rig count up 6 this week to 1,782

Published 2:16 pm, Friday, August 2, 2013

The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by six this week for a total of 1,782 rigs, according to Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes.

There were 1,388 rigs listed as searching for oil, down 13; 388 for gas, up 19; and six as miscellaneous, unchanged. At this time last year there were 1,429 rigs searching for oil, a difference of 41, and 498 rigs searching for gas, a difference of 110.

The number of vertical drilling rigs increased by 10, ending the week at 432 rigs. Horizontal drilling rigs increased by six for a total of 1,073. Directional drilling rigs declined by 10, totaling 277.

There were 1,930 rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. a year ago this week.

Texas added three rigs this week for a total of 851. At this time last year there were 909 rigs in Texas.

Rounding out the top five states by rig count were North Dakota with 170, down one; Oklahoma with 168, down eight; Louisiana with 108, up five; and New Mexico with 76, down three.

Among the other major oil- and gas-producing states, West Virginia added 11 rigs, Alaska added five and Ohio was up one. Colorado, Kansas and Pennsylvania each lost two rigs. Utah and Wyoming were down one apiece. Arkansas and California were unchanged.

There were 463 rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the Permian Basin this week, an increase of one. The Eagle Ford added two rigs for a total of 239. The Granite Wash lost one rig, ending the week at 75. The Barnett added three rigs for a total of 33.

In the U.S. there were 1,699 rigs listed as on land, up three; 25 as in inland waters, up three; and 58 as offshore, unchanged. There were 55 rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, up one.

The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in Canada increased by 12 this week for a total of 341 rigs. There were 118 rigs searching for gas, up seven; 223 rigs searching for oil, up five; and zero rigs listed as miscellaneous, unchanged. At this time last year there were 303 rigs in Canada.

The total number of rigs in North America this week was 2,123, an increase of 18. There were 2,233 rigs in North America a year ago this week, a difference of 110 rigs.